HomeMy WebLinkAbout14-040 Personnel Policies Manual Revision for Religious Holidays Attachment I
Resolution 14-040
RESOLUTION NO. 14-040
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND,
WASHINGTON, AMENDING THE PERSONNEL POLICIES MANUAL
WHEREAS,the City's Personnel Policy Manual was updated in 2011 and 2014; and
WHEREAS, Legislation Q'SB 5173) passed during the 2014 session entitles local (and
state) government employees to two unpaid holidays per calendar year"for reasons of faith or
conscience or for an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious
denomination, church, or religious organization"; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to update Section 8.12 "Religious Holidays" to reflect this
change in state law;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port
Townsend as follows:
Section 1. The City of Port Townsend Personnel Policies Manual is hereby amended
as outlined in the attached Exhibit"A."
Section 2. This Resolution takes effect on its adoption.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting thereof,
held this 7th day of July, 2014.
boa
David King, Mayor _j
Attest. Approved as to form:
Joanna Sanders, CMC John Watts
City Clerk City Attorney
Resolution 14-040
Exhibit A
EXHIBIT A
8.12 RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
If an employee's religious beliefs require observance of a holiday not included in the basic
holiday schedule, the employee may, with his/her department director's approval, take the day
off using vacation, comp time, or an employee choice day. If the foregoing leaves are exhausted,
an employee may request leave without pay.
Employees are entitled to two unpaid holidays per calendar year for a reason of faith or
conscience or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination,
church, or religious organization.
The employee may select the days on which he or she desires to take the two unpaid holidays
after consultation with his or her supervisor. If an employee prefers to take the two unpaid
holidays on specific days, then the employee will be allowed to take the unpaid holidays on the
days he or she has selected unless the absence would unduly disrupt operations, impose an undue
hardship, or the employee is necessary to maintain public safety. The term"undue hardship"
has the meaning contained in the rule established by the Office of Financial Management(WAC
82.56)•
If possible, an employee should submit a written request for an unpaid holiday_provided for by
this section to the employee's supervisor a minimum of 30 days prior to the requested day.
Approval of the unpaid holiday shall not be deemed approved unless it has been authorized in
writing by the employee's supervisor. The employee's supervisor shall evaluate requests by
considering the desires of the employee, scheduled work, anticipated peak workloads, response
to unexpected emergencies, the availability, if any, of a qualified substitute, and consideration of
the meaning of"undue hardship" developed by rule of the Office of Financial Management.
The two unpaid holidays allowed by this section must be taken during the calendar year, if at all;
they do not carry over from one year to the next.